It’s a known fact that the Wakatu Square car park, slap bang in the middle of Nelson is built on the site of a tidal estuary, the Nelson Photo News documented flooding as far back as the 1960s and the Nelson Mail faithfully reports each event, with images of motorists struggling through shin-deep water to reach their cars. (This picture was a couple of days later)

And yet it catches Nelson City Council out every time!

Like at the beginning of this month

To the “knowledge” of the employee responsible for Utilities, there “was no formal communication from Nelson City Council with regards to the king tides”.

If you’re charging for parking, you’ve have a duty to provide a service that’s fit for use.